Insulator



March 30 1926. 1,578,508

- H. L. GARBUTT INSULATOR Filed May '7, 1919 WWW WITNESSES: 4 INVENTOR Mam Harry L. fia'rbwf Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. GARBUTT, OF 'WILKIN'SBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

INSULATOR.

Application filed May 7,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HARRY L. GARBUTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to insulators and particularly to insulators of the suspension yp i e One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and effective in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suspension insulator that shall embody no permanently related metal connecting members and that shall be adapted for ready connection to, and disconnection from a supporting member, a similar insulator or any other device by a simple hand-manipulated metal member.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suspension insulator in which clamping terminal members shall tend to move into closer clamping relation to the insulating member in accordance with increased load forces in the insulator and in which the load forces shall be relatively widely distributed between the clamping terminal members and the insulating member.

A further object of my invention is to provide a suspension insulator that shall comprise a plurality of alternately related metal and insulating members in which an insulating member or members may be readily renewed without the aid of tools.

Heretofore, in many usual suspension insulators, it has been customary to suspend the insulating member or members by means of metal or other members that have been cemented or otherwise permanently attached thereto by a more or less complicated and expensive means requiring skill and time to assemble. Furthermore, when the insulating members have failed, replacement thereof has necessitated also a replacement of the attached metal members.

In practicing my invention, I provide a connecting member that may be attached to an insulating member with exceptional facility and simplicity of hand-manipulation, is substantially as simple in structure 1919. Serial No. 295,418.

and in operation as ordinary tongs, and does not require asmuch time for engagement tothe insulating member as does an ordinary glass insulator to its supporting its co-operat ing connecting members embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the upper of the connecting members shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are detall views illustrating modifications of my invention; and Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the modified form of connecting-device shown in Fig. 4. V 7

An insulator 1 that may comprise a plurality of juxtaposed members connected together by cement or any other suitable means, or that may consist of a single insulating member, is provided, at its outer ends, with annular grooves 3. Connecting members 4, shown as being of different sizes but which may be. of the same size, respectively comprise arms 5 pivotally connected together by a pin 6 and have, at their inner ends, arcuate projecting portions 7 that are adapted to conform to the grooves 3. Hubber gaskets 8 that may be disposed within the grooves 3, as indicated in Fig. 1, or mounted on the arcuate projections 7, as indicated in Fig. 3, serve as a cushioning means between the jaws of the tongs structure and the ends of the insulating member 1. Suitable links or connecting members 9 may be provided at the outer ends of the tongs devices for connecting them to similar insulators or other devices.

As shown in Fig. 3, a reinforcing ring 10 of metal, or other suitable material, is mounted in an internal groove 11 located adjacent to the lower end of the insulator 1.

In Figs. 1- and 5 is shown a toggle device 19, comprising arms 20, a pivot 21, and a depending member 22, that is adapted for insertion within. the internal groove 11. The arms 20 are provided with arcuate projections 23 to engage the groove 11, and, since only a slight collapsing movement is required of the toggle device for the pur pose of inserting it in the groove 11, the projections 23 may be disposed slightly out of the planes of the arms 20 in order that they may properly engage the groove 11 in the engaged position. In this form of device, a reinforcing ring 10 may be disposed in a groove around the outer periphery of the end of the insulator 1.

In operation, when the longitudinal load forces are applied to the members 9 of the device of Fig. 1, lateral component forces are transmitted, through the pins 6 and the arms 5, to the arcuate clamping portions 7. Since these portions extend substantially around the insulating member, and are shaped to the contour of the grooves 3, the load forces between the terminal and insulating members are relatively widely distributed. 7

Also, by reason of the relation of the members 9 and the arms 5 to the pins 6, the above-mentioned lateral: component forces are substantially proportional to the load forces of the insulator. With increased load, the holding or clamping force's between the terminal and'insulating members are increased, tending to move the clamping portions 7 into closer clamping relation to the insulating member. The devices of Figs. 3 and 4c operate in substantially the same manner, so that, under heavy load forces, the terminal and insulating members are more securely held together.

Readily hand-operable clamping devices,

as herein described, have not, to the best of my knowledge, been heretofore used in connection with suspension insulators. Fracture of the insulating members, caused by the unequal expansion of the metal and porcelain members of certain usual suspension'insulators, has been of relatively frequent occurrence and has'usually necessitated the replacement of the entire structure. Loss of time and materials has been caused by reason of the co-operative relation of the parts and the diiiiculty of assembling and installing the same. In my improved insulator, an insulating member may be installed or replaced in substantially a minimum amount of time and with great facility by simple hand manipulation. Furthermore, the relation of the members so compens-ates for unequal expansion of metal and insulation that damage is unlikely to occur.

WVhile I have shown and described only certain specific modifications, my invention comprises such further modifications as may occur to those skilled in the art, provided they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A suspension insulator comprising a body structure having a terminal-receiving portion adjacent to each end and a terminal structure adjacent to each end of the body structure having a clamping portion removably co-operating with the corresponding receiving portion to permit the ready handmanipulated mounting and dismounting of any one of the body and terminal structures independently while the others are in operative position, the construction and relation of the terminal structures to said terminal-receiving portions tending to move said clamping portions into closer clamping relation to the insulator in proportion to the load forces on the insulator and widely distributing the load forces between the body and terminal structures.

2. A suspension insulator comprising a body structure having similar terminahreceiving means adjacent to the ends thereof and a terminal structure adjacent to each of said ends constructed and related to cooperate with the receiving means at its respective end and to permit the ready handmanipulated mounting and dismounting of any of said structures independently of the others, While the latter are in operative position, the construction. and relation of the terminal structures to said terminal-receiving portions tending to move portions of said terminal structure into closer holding relation to the insulator in proportion to the load forces of the insulator and Widely distributing the load forces between the body and terminal structures.

3. An insulator for single flexible suspension and for flexible suspension in a group of similar units comprising a body structure having a lateral shoulder adjacent to each end, and a terminal structure adjacent to each end of the body structure having a lateral portion removably co-operating with the corresponding shoulder to permit the ready hand-manipulated mounting and dismounting of the body structure and of each terminal structure independently while the other structures are in operative position, the construction and relation of the terminal structures to said terminal-receiving portions tending to move said lateral portions into closer holding relation to the insulator in proportion to the load forces of the insulator and widely distributing the load forces between the body and terminal struc-; tures.

4. In an insulator for single flexible suspension and for flexible suspension in a group of similar units, the combination with a body'structure having a lateral shoulder adjacent to each end, of a terminal structure ad acent to each end of the body structure comprising relatively-movable members each having a lateral portion for co-operation with the corresponding end shoulder to per mit the ready hand-manipulated mounting and dismounting of the body structure and of each terminal structure independently while the other of said structures are in operative position, the construction and relation of the terminal structures to said terminal-receiving portions tending to move said lateral portions, into closer holding rellO lation to the insulatorin proportion to the load forces of the insulator and Widely distributing the load forces between the body and terminal structures.

5. A suspension insulator comprising a body structure having a terminal-receiving portion, and a terminal structure having clamping portions removably cooperating with said receiving portion, the construction and relation of the terminal structure to said terminal-receiving portion tending to move said clamping portions into closer clamping relation to tire insulator in proportion to the load forces on the insulator and Widely distributing the load forces between the body and terminal structure 6. In combination, a suspension insulator having an annular terminal-receiving groove adjacent to one end, and a terminal structure comprising permanently connected links and arcuate gripping members mounted on the links, the construction and arrangement of said terminal structure to said terminal-receiving groove tending to move said arcuate gripping members closer together in proportion to the load forces of the insulator and to Widely distribute the load forces therebetween.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunt subscribed my name this 22nd day of April,

HARRY L. GARBUTT. 

